Are you looking to buy art in Hong Kong? The good news is that this is a fabulous artistic hub – in fact, HK has the third highest art sales revenue in the world after London and New York! Here, we chat with two artists based in Hong Kong about their artworks, inspiration and current projects.
A look at two artists in Hong Kong
# Richard Crosbie
Give us an introduction to your art career and your artworks.
I’ve always been instinctively drawn to art – but becoming a “real” artist only truly happened after a career shock. Before COVID, I spent 25 years as a toy designer. During the pandemic, my employer closed, and I experienced a hard reset: the removal of my day-job identity, followed by an instinctive return to my core “programming”. I grabbed a paintbrush, stepped outside and simply started painting.
I began recording what I saw: people, streets and scenes full of energy and intensity. Over time, I found myself reappreciating everyday life again and again, as if I were seeing it for the first time. From there, joy became my compass. I began translating daily life into images that capture the gloriously chaotic detail of Hong Kong – filtered through my designer’s eye.
What mediums do you use?
I work with pen, ink, watercolour acrylic and pastels, and although I haven’t tried oil paint yet, I keep returning to watercolour. There’s always some new technique or property of the medium that draws me back, inviting me to keep learning.
Where do you get your inspiration?
From Hong Kong itself, which to me is an endless muse. Whether the city is bustling or beautifully quiet, there’s a certain energy here that is unlike anywhere else on earth.
It’s usually everyday moments and scenes of life that inspire me and elicit an emotional reaction within me. When I paint, I tend to play it straight. I don’t abstract or simplify; rather, I paint it as I see it, in all its glorious chaotic detail, from peeling paint to dirty walls. It’s these specific details in any given scene that make it truly unique to Hong Kong. However, I do on occasions create more fantastical pieces, such as my ‘Hong Kong Butterfly’ painting which I describe as a deconstruction and a reimagining of classic Hong Kong icons.
Do you work at home, in a studio or somewhere else?
I work either at home (my dining table) or outside on location often on the street – usually using my knees as a table to create urban sketches while sitting on fire hydrants!
Give us an insight into a typical workday.
For a full-time artist, I spend a surprising amount of time not creating art. As a one-man band, I am both the CEO and office boy of my own business. I do all my own admin, packing, deliveries, running around the city buying materials and writing articles such as this!
How can Expat Living readers see or buy your art?
I have social media pages as well as a website, and readers are welcome to send me a message and I’ll be happy to chat.
I’ve just finished my second solo exhibition and I’m now working towards exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in May. I will be exhibiting with an art collective named Rouge Art, and we will be at stand B13.
FB @852Richard | IG @richardcrosbie_art
richardcrosbieart.com
# Anthony Fryer
Tell us about your art.
My work emphasises the lines, pathways and distinctive features of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods. It is site-specific and story-driven, inviting viewers to connect the artwork directly to the locations that inspired it. It uses expressive, gestural lines with strokes of blues, reds, browns and greys, which outline architectural details. I also paint using a stone from the particular location of inspiration, creating a direct, physical connection between the artwork and the place that shaped it.
Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from pathways in Hong Kong, particularly the alleyways, side streets and architectural features encountered in the city. The paintings evoke the energy of the neighbourhoods and translate those impressions into semi-abstract, place-based compositions.
Give us an insight into a typical workday.
As the artworks are created in stages, one artwork will typically take one to two weeks for completion. The first task is to take photos of the location in Hong Kong, after which I prepare the materials and build the wash layers with a wide brush. Once the background is dry, I draw out the lines in pencil freehand, then use a stone from the location to add faint etches and gestural lines to define the architecture of the scene. When I’m finished, I review the composition and document the connection between the location and the story.
Any new or notable works or exhibitions you can tell us about?
My work has been exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong in 2024 and 2025, at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2023 (one of 55 artists worldwide to exhibit there, through Asia Art Archive), at the RCA in London, and at Beatrice Royal Gallery in Southampton. My work can currently be seen at Hong Kong International Airport.
How can Expat Living readers browse or buy your art in Hong Kong?
It’s permanently accessible through two key professional representations: the Hong Kong Arts Collective (locally) and Artstory.co.uk (serving the UK and international markets). Through the Hong Kong Arts Collective, I’m part of a platform that prioritises local artistic voices and makes art discovery seamless for collectors. Unlike traditional high-street galleries, this allows for a more personal, direct-to-collector experience, often bridging the gap between the digital viewing and the physical presence of the work.
Got any tips for buying artwork?
#1 Trust your instincts. If a piece resonates with you personally in those first few moments, it will likely hold its meaning and value in your home for years to come.
#2 Inquire about the background: Understanding the “how” and “why” adds immense value.
#3 Consider the environment: Think about how the artwork will fit in with your specific space. Factor in natural lighting, existing wall colours, and whether the scale of the piece complements the room’s proportions.
9674 4592 | IG @artworksbyanthonyfryer
anthonyfryer-artist.com
Liked this round-up of artists in Hong Kong? There’s plenty more to discover in our Things to Do section.
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